A solar installation is only as good as the quality of its components and service providers. Choosing reliable charge controllers and connectors helps extend the life of your project. Solar+storage is a growing market, and one that is expected to flourish past the ITC cliff. Using the right storage options will boost project performance and ROI. Here are some of the best balance of systems technologies we’ve come across this year.
CONE DRIVE: 5-in. CD Slew Drive
This advanced motion solution for PV tracking systems is manufactured in the United States. Proprietary double-enveloping gear technology drives more torque with less material, cost and weight to manage in the field. A range of assembly options, including installation of motors and torque transmission tubes, makes field installation simple, and improves overall system quality.
CONTINENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS: WattNode Energy and Power Meters with Fast Power
The “Fast Power” WattNode provides power register updates every 200 milliseconds allowing for feed-in response times of 500 milliseconds. The fast power reading supports utility feed-in limit requirements for utilities limiting their incoming AC power into the grid. With the Fast Power Modbus connected, the smart inverter can monitor and adjust generated power going to the grid quickly.
DUNKERMOTOR: GEN 4 Solar Tracker Motor
The Solar Tracker Motor (STM) with integrated programmable controlled DC brushless GEN 3 motors now introduces the GEN 4 STM, an integrated solar power motor unit that works effortlessly with either 230- or 110-V AC supply. No switching cabinet, no cabling, no wiring and no intensive labor needed. Just “plug and track.”
EATON: KwikSplice
KwikSplice is a light-weight, yet durable cable management system that is rated for NEMA 12A and 12B load classes. Featuring an industry-first two-bolt splice connection, KwikSplice reduces labor by up to 50%. Available in the United States and Canada, the KwikSplice is perfect for ground-mount and commercial rooftop solar applications.
GENERAL CABLE: SunGen UL 4703 PV Wire
General Cable is a global wire and cable provider for renewable energy applications. Engineered to withstand the harsh operating environments of solar applications, the SunGen line of fully-colored UL 4703 PV Wire offers superior resistance to UV sunlight, while providing stable electrical properties over a broad temperatures range (-40°C to 90°C).
HELLERMANNTYTON: Metal Solar Placards
Passing inspection or code compliance sometimes calls for PV identification expected to last 25 years. The first product of its kind in the industry, HellermannTyton Metal Solar Placards offer 25-year rated performance, are available in pre-printed, hand-writeable and engravable styles, and meet NEC, IFC, OSHA and ANSI labeling requirements.
MARATHON SPECIAL PRODUCTS: 1,500-V PV Fuse Holder
Marathon Special Products’ PV15BW series was developed to meet the growing demand for 1,500-V photovoltaic components for the solar industry, and incorporates Marathon’s unique busbar terminal that allows customers to eliminate custom fabricated comb busbars. The 1,500-V fuse holder is designed to improve performance and reduce material & labor costs.
MAXWELL TECHNOLOGIES: 56V Module
Cloudy skies got you down? Ultracapacitors by Maxwell Technologies can provide reliable and stable renewable energy firming for your solar installations. Maxwell’s 56-V module provides scalable energy grid storage, fast-response power stabilization and improves grid connection reliability. Weather is unpredictable. Your power delivery shouldn’t be.
MEGGER: PVM210 Irradiance Meter
The Megger PVM210 provides the solar PV engineer a pocket-sized instrument. Single-handed operation is possible because the solar detector and meter is housed in one unit, ideal when on a sloping roof or at the top of a ladder. The PVM210 may be used as an aid to select a site for placing solar panels, and then to verify short circuit current.
MIDNITE SOLAR: MPPT charge controllers
MidNite Solar is now offering the NEW Classic 150-SL, Classic 200-SL and Classic 250-SL SOLAR ONLY MPPT charge controllers with a streamlined menu. The Classic SL series has all the power of MidNite’s Classic line of charge controllers and are a breeze to install and setup.
MORNINGSTAR: Prostar MPPT charge controller
The Prostar MPPT solar charge controller with TrakStar Technology charges lead acid and lithium batteries in off-grid PV systems up to 1,200 W. This controller comes in 25- and 40-amp versions with lighting load control and allows multiple modules in series on 12- or 25-V battery systems.
MOXA: UC-8100 Series Starter Kit
Moxa’s UC-8100 Series Starter Kit offers cellular or Wi-Fi modules that users can easily install to enable wireless communication between the UC-8100 and peripheral devices. Also, system integrators can evaluate the feasibility of using remote management for specific industrial tasks, such as data acquisition and system integration.
MULTI-CONTACT: MC4 PV Connector
Multi-Contact‘s MC4 photovoltaic connectors are the global industry standard and can be found on more PV modules than any other connector system in the world. The MC4 family of connectors now offers 1,500-V UL and 1,500-V TUV solutions. Rely on the original.
PARKER HANNIFIN INDUSTRIAL CYLINDER DIVISION: Hybrid Actuation System (HAS)
Reinvent active solar tracking through the use of Parker’s Hybrid Actuation System (HAS) actuators. HAS features the controllability of electromechanical actuators combined with the power density, longer life and resistive force capabilities of traditional hydraulic systems. The resulting hybrid offers a robust, long-life tracking solution for solar power.
NINE FASTENERS: NFI-1463 Clip
The NFI-1463 clip is for use with a single Enphase Engage trunk cable. Most clips on the market are designed for multiple Enphase Engage cables, but this product is a great fit for installers needing to only secure a single Engage cable in each clip.
PHOENIX CONTACT: PACT RCP Rogowski coil
Current transformers are necessary for AC current measurement. There are several issues with traditional CTs: physical packaging, high voltage shock hazards and fixed measurement ratios are among the principle disadvantages. Phoenix Contact’s Rogowski coil solution eliminates all three of these problems with a touch-safe, flexible and configurable CT solution.
SCHURTER: FMCC SOL & FMER SOL Filter Solutions
EMC Standards place strict limits on AC and DC line disturbance. Schurter’s FMCC SOL tackles AC interference. The complementing FMER SOL DC filter ensures (DC) EMC compliance, increasing reliability of the entire PV system. Together, they provide a complete filter solution for inverters that require AC and DC line filtering for PV systems.
SHOALS TECHNOLOGIES GROUP: BLM (Big Lead Monitor)
The Shoals BLM (Big Lead Monitor) is a current, voltage & IV curve monitor that works in conjunction with the Shoals BLA (Big Lead Assembly). Making use of these two revolutionary products, makes it possible to have zero combiner boxes on site which significantly reduces the eBOS cost and speeds up installation.
TAMURA CORP. OF AMERICA: L34SXXXD15 Open Loop Hall Effect Current Sensor
This DC current sensor series is applicable for use in PV system re-combiner boxes, especially in commercial applications. It can also be used in commercial inverters. Other features include open loop, high current and flexibility to mount vertically or horizontally.
STORAGE
AQUION ENERGY: Aqueous Hybrid Ion (saltwater) battery
Aquion’s Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI) saltwater batteries are a modular and sustainable energy storage solution and Cradle-to-Cradle Certified. Aquion batteries deliver thousands of real-use duty cycles for long-duration (4- to 20-hr) applications, such as load shifting, renewable energy storage and demand charge reduction.
CROWN BATTERY: CRP Power Module
Crown Battery’s 2-V CRP Power Module batteries are designed from the ground up for renewable energy. Crown’s robotic welding is 40 times more precise than standard manual welding, for longer life. Automated assembly allows for SolidCast internal connectors that handle high electrical loads with unmatched reliability. Capacity ranges from 710 to 3,690 amp-hours.
FULLRIVER BATTERY USA: DC Series deep-cycle AGM battery
Fullriver DC Series AGM batteries are built to withstand even the harshest conditions. With long runtimes, high AH ratings and a seven-year warranty, its solar batteries are made to provide many years of reliable service without maintenance or corrosion.
GRIDTENTIAL ENERGY: Silicon Joule
Designed to meet the gigawatt storage needs of the grid, Gridtential’s Silicon Joule technology couples two commodity infrastructures—silicon and lead acid—in a novel approach that cracks the solar-storage cost challenge. Higher energy density, longer cycle life and deeper depth-of-discharge than incumbent solutions make it the economic storage solution.
GS BATTERY: SLR1000-2 advanced lead-carbon battery
The ECO R SLR1000-2 from GS Battery is an advanced lead-carbon battery that provides an unprecedented 5,000 cycles at 70% DOD. These maintenance-free, sealed, VRLA batteries offer the value, safety, reliability and recyclability of lead with the cycle performance of lithium.
IMERGY POWER SYSTEMS: ESP250
Imergy’s ESP250 vanadium flow batteries provide utilities, developers and commercial and industrial customers with a low-cost, high-performance solution for large-scale applications like peaker plant replacements and renewables management. Combining cycle depth and infinite lifetime of VRFBs with Imergy’s use of low-grade vanadium, ESP250 boasts low costs and environmental impact.
JUICEBOX ENERGY: JB86 energy storage system
The JuiceBox Energy JB86 is an 8.6-kWh lithium ion residential energy storage system that supports energy peak shifting, load shaving and backup power, all controlled over a robust cellular network designed to maximize home energy management. The JB86 supports new and existing renewable energy installations, including grid edge services.
LITHIONICS BATTERY: 10-kW solar harvest module
The module addresses the need for a single, light-weight battery storage solution capable of harvesting and delivering 10 kW of usable energy at or above 48 V. Both the charge and discharge efficiencies are 99%, making the round-trip harvest-discharge efficiency a total of 98% (at least 50% greater—amp-hour for amp-hour—than any other non-lithium battery system).
ROLLS BATTERY ENGINEERING: 2V, 2 YS 62P flooded deep-cycle battery
Broadening its 5000 Series flooded range, Rolls introduces the new 2 YS 62P. Specifically designed to offer unparalleled capacity (4,860 AH), this 2-V model offers customers a versatile, high capacity solution to meet the storage needs of large-scale off-grid and grid-tied applications.
SAFT AMERICA: Intensium Mini
Intensium Mini complements Saft’s Intensium Max range of containerized lithium-ion battery solutions, providing up to 480 kWh of energy in a compact outdoor cabinet system. Available in high-power, medium-power and high-energy versions, Intensium Mini can be tailored to meet the energy storage needs for commercial and industrial power and small microgrids.
S&C ELECTRIC CO.: PureWave SMS-250 storage management system
Simplifying complexity, S&C’s PureWave SMS-250 storage management system provides 250 kW of scalable energy storage for solar power needs. Engineered with the company’s three-phase, four quadrant converter system and proven control algorithms, the SMS delivers every use case from solar smoothing to energy arbitrage.
SHARP ELECTRONICS CORP.: SmartStorage energy storage system
Sharp’s SmartStorage energy storage system is a battery-based demand management system designed to reduce expensive peak demand charges for commercial and industrial buildings, backed by Sharp’s more than 100 years of experience. SmartStorage energy storage systems are available with an optional 10-year asset management service agreement and a demand reduction performance guarantee.
SIMPLIPHI POWER: OES2 2.6-kWh energy storage battery
Since 2002, SimpliPhi Power has manufactured efficient, portable lithium-ion batteries. Starting in the entertainment industry and now expanded into on/off-grid residential, commercial and military markets, SimpliPhi’s non-toxic, lithium ferrous phosphate batteries feature: 98% efficiency, 5,000+ cycles, 100% depth of discharge, with no need for cooling, and a 10-year warranty.
TROJAN BATTERY CO.: Smart Carbon
Trojan’s Smart Carbon technology is formulated to address the impact of partial state of charge on cycling batteries in renewable energy, inverter backup and remote telecom applications. Designed to improve life and performance, Smart Carbon is featured in Trojan’s Industrial and Premium lines of flooded deep-cycle batteries.
U.S. BATTERY MANUFACTURING: Sense Smart electrolyte sensor
The Sense Smart takes the guesswork of knowing when to add water to a set of batteries used for storing solar energy. Without drilling or modifications to the battery, it features a built-in probe and processor that sends a signal to an external LED, indicating if the battery set needs water.